Saturday’s Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket sees the rematch between
Sky Lantern and Elusive Kate, who clashed on the July Course in the Falmouth
Stakes with what many regard as an unsatisfactory outcome. Sky Lantern was
second in that July 12 showdown, but with Elusive Kate carrying her left across
the track, the stewards’ decision to leave the result as it stood created some
controversy.
What is clear is that both are high-class in their own right, with Sky
Lantern demonstrating her authority over her peers in the Coronation Stakes at
Royal Ascot, having annexed the One Thousand Guineas over this track and trip,
and Elusive Kate now a four-time winner at this level after winning a second
consecutive Prix Rothschild at Deauville July 28. Both have unplaced efforts to
rebound from, with Sky Lantern suffering interference when fifth in the Nassau
Stakes at Goodwood and Elusive Kate only seventh in the Prix Jacques le Marois
back at Deauville.
“Elusive Kate is just one of six classy fillies that we have to beat, but
everything we have seen at home suggests that Sky Lantern is at the top of her
game,” Sky Lantern’s trainer Richard Hannon said. “We were worried earlier in
the week about the prospect of rain and whether they would risk watering if it
did not arrive, but the jockeys are adamant that the ground is riding on the
fast side of good, and with a dry forecast Sky Lantern should get her perfect
underfoot conditions.
“She has thrived through the summer and now weighs in at an awesome 495 kilos
and, while it was not lack of stamina which beat her in the Nassau Stakes, she
has proved herself a champion over the mile so it makes sense to come back in
trip here.”
Elusive Kate’s jockey William Buick is hopeful she can confirm the form of
the Falmouth.
“You can be sure that both fillies will be going into this on the top of
their game, but I have genuine faith in Elusive Kate and the boss, John Gosden,
is a genius with fillies and has got her there in top shape,” he said. “Although
she’s performed well on soft and won when there’s give in the ground, she is at
home on a quicker surface so I don’t have a concern about the weather. She’s got
speed and I know that she stays, so all options are there to be explored.”
Just the Judge was only a half-length behind Sky Lantern in the Guineas and,
after her subsequent success in the Irish equivalent at The Curragh three weeks
later, was believed capable of getting the better of her rival in the Coronation
before finishing a slightly disappointing third. Injured when trailing in the
Nassau, she has been nurtured back by trainer Charlie Hills, and he is hoping
for a bold show.
“She ripped a shoe off at Goodwood and the break has done her the world of
good,” he said. “I’m sure she’ll run well as long as the ground is not too firm,
and we know that this track suits her. We’ll leave Jamie (Spencer) to do what he
wants, but she’s got a big stride and I’m sure she’ll be somewhere up there on
the front end. We really wanted to go a mile and a quarter, but there is plenty
of time for that.”
Newmarket plays host to some fast fillies in the Group 1 Cheveley Park
Stakes, and few can boast the speed of the French raider Vorda as she bids to
become the third to annex the race for her native country since 2007. Successful
in the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte, the bay was finishing best of all
behind No Nay Never in the Prix Morny at Deauville last time, and had the
subsequent Moyglare Stud Stakes winner and Fillies’ Mile runner-up Rizeena
behind.
“She has come on from each of her races, physically and mentally,” trainer
Philippe Sogorb told PA Sport. “Following the Morny, where she didn’t have a
hard race, she has been in good form and I’m very happy with her. She is full of
speed and quick off her feet. She is very easy to ride and to train. I cannot
find the slightest flaw with this filly. If there is no rhythm in the race she
adapts, if there is loads of pace she follows, if it is good ground or soft, she
just goes.
“This is not her last race of the season, as we are looking at the Breeders’
Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf. If she wins, we would look at that race.”
Kiyoshi, who for a long time looked the best two-year-old filly in training
by virtue of her dazzling success in Royal Ascot’s Albany Stakes over six
furlongs, had to settle for second, before being demoted to third, in the
Moyglare Stud trying seven furlongs on her only subsequent start at The Curragh
at the start of the month. She deserves another opportunity to underline her
class, having been chased home at a commanding distance by a host of subsequent
black-type performers including the Group scorers Sandiva, Lucky Kristale,
Wonderfully and Princess Noor.
Trainer Charlie Hills, who saddled a 28-1 winner of Friday’s Fillies’ Mile
here in Chriselliam, is hoping she can register a top-level success.
“Things didn’t really pan out the way we wanted in Ireland, but she still ran
a very good race and this looks ideal for her,” he said. “The track will suit
her and I’m not worried about dropping back to six, as she has plenty of speed
and a great turn of foot. I think she’s the one to beat.”
Joyeuse is the unknown quantity, having been patiently trained since her
third behind Kiyoshi in the Albany. Coming back after a break to beat the
re-opposing Dorothy B by a neck in the Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury
September 5, the half-sister to Frankel and Juddmonte homebred carries a weight
of expectation into this contest.
“She won her maiden first time out impressively, then went to Royal Ascot and
didn’t quite get the run of the race, but there were two good fillies in front
of her that day,” the owner-breeder’s Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe said. “We
gave her a break, she grew and needed a bit more time to mature and she was a
little bit race-rusty when she won a Listed race at Salisbury. We were very
pleased with the way she did it, especially after a long break.
“She’s come on, but this is obviously a big step up now and there are some
very high-class fillies in the race so it will take a bit of winning. We hope
she’s up to it, but the trouble is if you are a half-sister to Frankel people
expect bigger things than if you were bred otherwise.”
It has been a long wait for fans of Berkshire, but it ends Saturday as the
exciting prospect returns for the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes, a “Win and You’re
In” event for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. So impressive when dismissing
some smart rivals in an above-average renewal of the Chesham Stakes at Royal
Ascot, that form has received several commendations in recent weeks from the
next three home: Bunker, Ihtimal and Somewhat.
“He’s bred to stay a bit further and in his final bit of work at the weekend
he settled and we thought we wouldn’t be shy to take the mile on,” trainer Paul
Cole’s son and assistant, Oliver, said. “I don’t think there’ll be any problems
as far as stamina is concerned. He finished well over seven furlongs in the
Chesham and is crying out for a mile.
“We’ve been pleased with him all along — there’s been no hiccups, touch
wood. He was just slightly immature at Ascot and we decided to give him time.
Seeing how he runs, the Dewhurst could be the next race-that’s what Frankel did,
go from a mile to seven furlongs. I’d doubt we’d go for the Racing Post Trophy,
as it’s too late on in the season and the ground could be a question mark up
there.”
Since his fourth in the Chesham, Somewhat has finished runner-up in the
Superlative Stakes at Newmarket before beating the subsequent Listed winner Be
Ready in Newbury’s Washington Singer Stakes last time.
Ballydoyle test the waters with Kingfisher, who will provide a fairer
indication as to the ability of his stable companion Australia, who he trailed
by 9 1/2 lengths when third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Trial at
Leopardstown September 7.
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